Abstract: A method for operating a data processing system to discover the attributes of instruments in a set of instruments connected thereto is disclosed. The method causes the data processing system to determine all instruments in the set of instruments connected thereto by sending a first query on each communication link connected to the data processing system. The data processing system receives a response that identifies one of the instruments and a model identification code for that instrument. The data processing system retrieves model configuration information from an instrument catalog database attached to the data processing system based on the manufacturer's catalog information. The model configuration information includes an option that is available on the one of the instruments having the manufacturer's catalog information and a query that will cause that instrument to provide information on whether that option is installed on the one of the instruments.

Abstract: A method for operating a data processing system to discover the attributes of instruments in a set of instruments connected thereto is disclosed. The method causes the data processing system to determine all instruments in the set of instruments connected thereto by sending a first query on each communication link connected to the data processing system. The data processing system receives a response that identifies one of the instruments and a model identification code for that instrument. The data processing system retrieves model configuration information from an instrument catalog database attached to the data processing system based on the manufacturer's catalog information. The model configuration information includes an option that is available on the one of the instruments having the manufacturer's catalog information and a query that will cause that instrument to provide information on whether that option is installed on the one of the instruments.

Abstract: A method for operating a data processing system to discover the attributes of instruments in a set of instruments connected thereto is disclosed. The method causes the data processing system to determine all instruments in the set of instruments connected thereto by sending a first query on each communication link connected to the data processing system. The data processing system receives a response that identifies one of the instruments and a model identification code for that instrument. The data processing system retrieves model configuration information from an instrument catalog database attached to the data processing system based on the manufacturer's catalog information. The model configuration information includes an option that is available on the one of the instruments having the manufacturer's catalog information and a query that will cause that instrument to provide information on whether that option is installed on the one of the instruments.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically monitoring communications networks and for determining network configuration use data stream characterizations. The system comprises a plurality of measurement probes that passively probe the network and collect data packets carried by data streams in the network. The system further comprises characterization computational units that process the collected data packets and produce data stream characterizations from the collected data packets. The data stream characterizations represent individual data streams in an arbitrarily unique manner. The system still further comprises a configuration processing unit that compares data stream characterizations taken at different points in the network and determines data stream paths through the network based on data stream characterization matching.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the operation of a plurality of measurement probes enables multi-point measurements of a communications network. The method comprises the step of collecting data packets from a data stream of the communications network using the plurality of probes. The data packets are collected after a predetermined start time. The method further comprises the steps of determining a hash value array from an invariant portion of the sampled data packets, and comparing the hash value array to a start hash mask. Collection by a probe of a data packet that produces a hash value array that matches the start hash mask is used as a synchronization event. The method of the present invention allows multiple measurement probes observing the same data stream at different physical locations to be synchronized such that all of the probes observe the same set of packets being carried by the data stream.

Abstract: A configuration system for an application having a plurality of application components is described. The configuration system includes a configuration oracle/initiator that repeatedly asserts a desired state to the application components to operate in that desired state. The desired state is a predetermined state. The configuration oracle only asserts the desired state to the application components and does not control the manner in which each of the application components moves to the desired state. The configuration system also includes a configuration engine in each of the application components that causes the corresponding application components to move to the desired state upon receiving the state assertion of the desired state unless the configuration engine determines that the corresponding application component is already in the desired state. A method of configuring an application having a large number of application components is also described.